Typewriting machine



June 10. 1924.

L. C. MYERS TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Aug. 22 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 LMIG3 2 5'2 ldaitented June i9, 192%.

UNEWE TATES l dddfidd rarest earica.

LEWIS O. MYERS, OF FREEPORT, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ROYAL TYPEWRITER COM-PANY, INQ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

Application filed August 22, 1923. Serial No. 658,717.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lnwrs C. MYERS, a citmen of the United States, andresident of Freeport, in the county of Nassau and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TypewritingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

It has been previously proposed to make' the platen of a typewritingmachine removable from the platen frame, in order that new platens orthose of different characteristics may be readily installed, and adevice of this character is shown in patent to Hess, No. 990,736, April26, 1911.

I is also old to provide what is known asfractional line spacing, ordevices for writmg intermediate the lines, and to so arrange themechanism that when the regular line spacing devices are again broughtinto use, the regular line spacing will start from that exact point.Devices of this character are disclosed in patent to Dowd, No.1,312,024, August 5, 1919.

In general these fractional line space mechanisms include elements thatextend into the interior of the platen and are shiftable from oneposition to the other and are frequently actuated by a rod slidingwithin the platen axle. For this reason no construction is known priorto my invention by which a platen which is equipped for fractional linespacing can be readily removed from its bearings inthe' platen frame orvide such mechanism that is simple in construction' and in which theplaten may be quickly detached and as quickly replaced, and in which theparts of the fractional line space mechanism carried by the platen andthose mounted on the platen frame will automatically register upon thereplacement of the platen.

for the right hand end of the platen.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the followingdetailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the right hand side of a typewritercarriage of the well known Royal typewriter, with a platen axle insection.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the platen removed from the carriageand the latch in released position.

Figure 3 is a front view of the carriage and platen with parts omittedand parts in longitudinal section.

Figure dis a view of the platen removed with parts of the platen in theportion of the fractional line space mechanism carried thereby insection.

Figure 5 is an end view of the platen removed.

Figure 6 is a side view on a larger scale of the left hand end of theplaten and the fractional line space mechanism associated therewith.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal section through the portion of the fractionalline space mechanism remaining in the carriage when the la-ten isremoved.

Figure 8 is a fragmental top plan View of the left hand end of thecarriage and special supporting mechanism for the fractional line spacemechanism.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the latch A laten carriage has sideplates A and A joined at the bottom by a rail a supported by ballbearings a upon a shiftable track a in the usual manner. The usual racka is attached to the side plates. A platen B has a sleeve 3) which isfastened by screws 6 to the platen axle C. At the right hand end of. theaxle a sleeve 6 is fastened thereto by screws 6 and carries a fingerwheel 6 by which the platen may be turned manually as desired.Interposed between the sleeves b and b is ashort sleeve loose on theaxle C and having an annular groove b". The right hand carriage platehas a cut out A into which the sleeve passes when the parts areassembled, the groove 6 being entered by the edge of the sidewall.

To hold the platen axle in position in the carriage, there is provided alatch member D shown in perspective in Figure 9. This latch is pivotedon an eccentric screw D for purposes of adjustment and has an upper hookend D curved at d to fit within the groove b. The latch is also providedwith a finger piece (1 and a U-shaped offset (1 which hasits free armlonger than the other to engage the side plate A and guide the latch inits movement. The bend of this offset member will also engage the sideplate and 'limit the movement of the latch towards its holding position.

The carriage is provided with a feed roll release lever E pivoted at Eto the side plate A and having a mutilated gear 6 on .theend thereofthat meshes with a mutilated gear 6 on the paper feed roll and is heldin placeby a screw 6 The latch D has a tail d which contacts with thescrew 6 to limit the movement of the latch D when moved to releasingposition as shown in Figure 2. The latch also has an ear d to which isattached one end of a returning spring (i the other end of which isfastened to the screw E or to some other part of the paper feed .rollrelease lever E. This spring tends to hold the latch in position toretain the platen in its proper position in the carriage.

The line space mechanism is of the usual Royal type and comprises a pawlF pivoted to a carrier F at f and engaging a rachet f normally rotatingwith the platen. A finger piece F adjusts the position of a guard platei and determines the point at which the pawl will enga e the ratchet andthe conse uent extent 0 rotation of the ratchet an platen. A roller Fcarried by a sprin arm in the usual manner engages the rate et wheel f?to determine exact line space movements.

Fastened to the left hand end of the platen is a head G which has aninwardly extending hollow boss 9' and an outwardly extending hollow boss9'. This is fastened to the platen by screws 9 and forms a bearirzlg forthe left hand end of the platen axle which terminates at this pointinstead of being extended as usual, and is provided with a rounded endC.

The left hand carriage plate A has a portion bent outwardly anddownwardly as at A to form an extended bearing for a spindle H which iscoaxial with the platen shaft C and whose inner end enters the hollowboss 9. On the outside of the plate portion A the spindle H is providedwith a sleeve H. fastened by a set screw 72 to the spindle, and fast tothis sleeve is a finger piece it normally used for "turning the platen.llnside the plate portion A3 a collar h is fastened by a set screw a tothe, spindle s0 that the spindle is held against endwise movement butcan rotate freely.

aaaaeeo Mounted to turn freely on the inner end of the spindle H is acup-shaped member K having a hub K fitting said spindle. Said hub has areduced portion on which is mounted the line space ratchet P so as toturn therewith. The member K surrounds the boss 9 but at a considerabledistance therefrom and is provided on its inner wall with a finelyserrated or toothed ring portion K. This member K forms one element of afractional line space mechanism such as shown for. example in Dowd; No.1,312,024;, August 5, 1919; a

The other element of the fractional line space mechanism ,is in the formof a hub portion L slidingly mounted on the boss g and having threeoutwardly extending arms Z terminating in serrated portions Z adapted tocooperate with the serrated ring K The member L is mounted to rotatewith the platen and is pressed normally into engagement with the ring Kby means of pins L secured to the arms Z of the member L which pins passthrough openings in the head G and into sockets L of the platen. SpringsZ in said sockets bear at one end against the inner ends of the socketsand at the other end against collars Z on the pins L. When the member Lis pressed out Wardly into the position shown in Figure 3, theserrations Z on the arms thereof engage the serrations on the ring K andthe member K with the line space ratchet wheel f is locked to theplaten, so that an 1 actuation of the line space mechanism wil turn theplaten.

A disengagement of the two members of the fractional'line spacemechanism may be brought about in the following manner. The outer faceof thelockingmember L is rovided with an annular undercut recess lid inwhich is mounted a split ring M tapered to fit the recess. This ring hasa projecting tongue M which passes through an open channel in the hollowboss g and througha slot H in the inner tapered end of the spindle H.The spindle H is hollow and slidably mounted therein is a rod N providedwith a push button N at its outer end. It also hasa shoulder a workingin an enlarged'opening n in the sleeve H and is held against withdrawalby a set screw n Normally the parts are in the position shown in Figurev3 in which the serrations Z are in engagement with the serrated ring KIf the rod N is pushed inwardly it will engage the tongue M and therebyslide the member L into the position shown in Figure 6, in which theconnection between the members L and K i entirely broken and the platenmay be moved without any .movement of the line space ratchet wheel 7.When the rod is released, the springs Z will return the parts to theFigure 3 position.

neeaeeo and A of the carriage and an arm P has a downwardly extendingear p held in place by the screw 70 which fastens the rod P to the sidebar or late A of the carriage.

' The other end of t e arm P is fastened by a screw 70 to theoverhanging portion A of the left hand carriage side plate which con-.

nects the portion A with the plate proper A.

When the parts are in normal position as shown in Figure 3 and it isdesired to remove the platen, the latch D will be pressed back by thefinger piece d so that the engaging end D moves to the position shown inFigure 2, thus clearing the platen axle C. The rod N will then be pushedin to disengage the two clutch elements, and bring the parts to theposition shown in Figure 6. The right hand end of the platen may then belifted slightly, bringing it to the dotted line position of Figure 6,whereupon it may be withdrawn endwise enough to disengage the boss 9from the spindle H. The rounded end C of the platen axle and the taperedend H of the spindle H will permit this tilting movement. To replace theplaten, the left hand end is first placed in position so that the boss gpasses over the spindle H which will automatically center the parts, theplaten is pushed towards the left, the latch D swung to open positionand the platen dropped into place. The spring (P will move the latch toholdin position when released.

t will be evident that l have provided I a platen equipped withfractional line space mechanism which may nevertheless be quicklydetached from the platen carriage with no further trouble than the mererelease of a single latch. Furthermore the platen may be as readilyreplaced and is automatically centered in proper position. The platen isheld in proper working position and all parts function with their usualease and accuracy.

Obviously many detailed changes may be made in the arrangement of theparts and the specific construction of the elements without departing inany way from the spirit of the invention, and it is to be understoodthat the invention is limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1Q In a typewriting machine, the combination of a detachable platen, acarriage frame, and line space mechanism comprising release devices oneportion of which is carried by the platen and the other by the carriageframe, said devices when in release position permitting the removal ofthe platen and automatically separating upon such removal.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a detachable platen, acarriage frame, line space mechanism comprising release devices oneportion of which is carried by the platen and the other by the carriageframe, said devices when in release position permitting the removal ofthe platen and automatically separating upon such removal, andinter-engaging means on the two portions whereby the platen isautomatically centered when replaced in the carriage frame.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combi nation of a detachable platen,means for holding the platen normally in position, and line spacemechanism having elements which freely separate to release the platenfrom the line space mechanism, and when thus separated, permit the freeremoval of the platen.

4. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a detachable platen, acarriage frame, means for holding the platen normally in position insaid frame, and line space mechanism comprising a part mounted on theplaten and a part mounted on the carriage frame which freely separatesto release the platen from the line space mechanism, and when thusseparated, permit the free removal of the platen.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a detachable platen, acarriage frame, a platen axle supported in one end of the carriageframe, a spindle supported in the other end of the carriage frame, linespace mechanism comprising a portion carried by the platen and a portioncarried by the spindle, said portions separating freely to release theplaten from the line space mechanism, and when thus separated,permitting the free removal of the platen, and means for holding theplaten in position with the portions of the line space mechanism inoperative relation.

(3. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a platenaxle, a carriage frame having side plates, a bearing on the axle beyondone end of the platen, means for supporting the bearing in one sideplate, a spindle mounted in the other side plate coaxial with the platenaxle, means carried by the platen for detachably engaging said spindle,and a latch forholding the platen in position.

" 7. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a platenaxle, a carria e frame, a bearing in said frame for the ax e beyond oneend of the platen, means supported in the other side of the frame andextending inside thereof, mechanism carried by the platen and detachablyengaging said means to support the platen at that end, and a latch forholding the platen in position.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combi nation of a platen, a carriageframe, a

platen axle extending in one direction be-c -end, a spindle mounted inthe carriage frame coaxial with the platen axle and extending within thecarriage frame, means carried by the adjacent end of the platen fordetachably engaging said spindle and a latch for holding the platen inposition.

10. In a typewriting machine the combination of a platen, a carriageframe, a platen axle extending in one direction beyond the carriageframe and terminating short of the carriage frame at the other end, aspindle mounted in the carriage frame coaxial with the platen axle andextending within the carriage frame, a hollow boss portion curved toswing neeaeeo carried by the adjacent end of the platen for fittingover' the end of the spindle, said boss and spindle separating to permitremoval of the platen and a latch for holding the platen in position.-

11. In a typewriting machine, a carriage frame, a detachable. platen,line space mechanism including platen release devices and having aportion carried by the frame,

and'a bracket-carried by the carriage frame and furnishing additionalsupport for said portion of the line space mechanism when the platen isdetached. F

12. In a typewriting machine, a carriage frame, a detachable platen, anda latch for holding the platen in operative position in operativeposition comprising a hook reely into and out of engaging position, atail portion for limitingthe swing in one direction, an 0&- set arm forguiding the latch and limiting the swing in the other direction and aspring normally tending to move the latch 4 ,to holding position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

LEWIS C. MYERS.

